Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange on Thursday ended his hunger strike, which had been underway since August 29, and gave the Maharashtra government 90 days to act on and consider his demands. He said he would resume protests in Mumbai if the demands are not met within the stipulated period.
Jarange had begun the hunger strike on August 29 from Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district. His primary demand is reservation for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota based on Kunbi lineage.
He had also placed several other demands before the government, including recognition of the Hyderabad, Satara and Aundh gazettes and issuance of Kunbi certificates to Marathas based on old government records and documents.
Jarange has maintained that eligible Maratha families should be granted Kunbi certificates on the basis of historical records, enabling them to avail benefits under the OBC reservation category.
After not receiving the response he expected on the demands, Jarange began a march to Mumbai on September 15. However, he halted the march after his health deteriorated upon reaching Patoda in Beed district the following day.
According to doctors, his blood pressure and blood sugar levels had dropped significantly due to the prolonged hunger strike. He was also suffering from dehydration. Discussions on the next course of the agitation began in view of his health condition.
Before leaving Jalna for Mumbai on September 15, Jarange paid tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The decision to end the hunger strike was taken after a meeting in Patoda with a Maharashtra government delegation comprising minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Dada Bhuse, MLC Prasad Lad, MLA Suresh Dhas and senior officials.
During the meeting, the government delegation briefed Jarange on the work undertaken so far regarding demands related to Maratha reservation. Following the discussions, Jarange agreed to give the government 90 days for further action on the demands.
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said that further action in matters related to the Satara and Kolhapur gazettes could take around three to four months after receipt of the Advocate General’s written opinion.
Vikhe Patil also asked Jarange to nominate three representatives who would be able to monitor the progress of actions being undertaken by the government.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that the government had acted on 12 of the 13 legally valid demands raised by Maratha protesters. The government had also questioned the timing of the agitation as it was taking place during the Ganesh festival period.
Vikhe Patil had appealed to Jarange to end the agitation, stating that the government was prepared for dialogue and that the issues could be addressed through discussions.
Minister Ashish Shelar had also urged Jarange to take care of his health and avoid protests during the Ganesh festival. Following discussions between the government and Jarange, the agitation has been suspended for 90 days.
The Maratha reservation issue has remained a long-standing matter in Maharashtra’s political and social policy landscape. Jarange’s principal demand relates to including eligible members of the Maratha community in the OBC category on the basis of Kunbi certificates.
The demand is based on historical records and lineage documents. Jarange’s movement has focused on expediting this process and ensuring that eligible Maratha families receive the certificates. Recognition of the Hyderabad, Satara and Aundh gazettes and issuance of Kunbi certificates based on historical records have also remained key demands of the agitation.
Jarange had also staged a hunger strike at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan in August-September 2025. A large number of supporters had travelled to Mumbai during that agitation, affecting traffic and routine activities in South Mumbai.
The 2025 agitation was called off on September 2, 2025, after six of Jarange’s eight demands were accepted by the government and the process for Kunbi classification certificates was initiated.
Following the resumption of the agitation in 2026, the Maratha reservation issue again remained at the centre of public discussion in the state. After a 20-day hunger strike, Jarange has now granted the government a 90-day period for further action.
With the hunger strike now concluded, attention will remain on the government’s actions regarding Jarange’s demands, particularly matters linked to the Satara and Kolhapur gazettes, the Advocate General’s opinion and subsequent administrative procedures.
Jarange has stated that if the expected action is not taken on his demands within the 90-day period, he will launch another agitation in Mumbai.
